Rapid Detection and Quantification of Patulin and Citrinin Contamination in Fruits

Patulin (PAT) and citrinin (CTN) are the most common mycotoxins produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species and are often associated with fruits and fruit by-products. Hence, simple and reliable methods for monitoring these toxins in foodstuffs are required for regular quality assessment. In this study, we aimed to establish a cost-effective method for detection and quantification of PAT and CTN in pome fruits, such as apples and pears, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with spectroscopic detectors without the need for any clean-up steps. The method showed good performance in the analysis of these mycotoxins in apple and pear fruit samples with recovery ranges of 55-97% for PAT and 84-101% for CTN, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) of PAT and CTN in fruits were 0.006 mu g/g and 0.001 mu g/g, while their limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.018 mu g/g and 0.003 mu g/g, respectively. The present findings indicate that the newly developed HPLC method provides rapid and accurate detection of PAT and CTN in fruits.

Automated summary

In this study, a cost-effective method using HPLC coupled with spectroscopic detectors was developed for the detection and quantification of PAT and CTN in pome fruits without the need for clean-up steps. The method showed good performance in analyzing these mycotoxins in apple and pear fruit samples, providing rapid and accurate detection. The study findings indicate that the newly developed HPLC method is a reliable approach for PAT and CTN analysis in fruits.